Fort Tilden

During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown last March, I began making regular trips to Fort Tilden, escaping my apartment and enjoying this natural preserve only a 30-minute drive away. I visited the area once before but now I had the chance to roam the trails and discover the fort's history, hidden from the beach under overgrown vegetation. Below is a brief description of the fort's history.

Fort Tilden Plan
http://www.fortwiki.com/File:Fort_Tilden_Plan.jpg

Fort Tilden, once a functioning military fort, is today part of Gateway National Recreation Area. Located on the Rockaway peninsula in Queens, N.Y., the fort is bordered by Jacob Riis Park to the east and Breezy Point to the west. The area is a popular beach and fishing destination for many New Yorkers, as well as a marine habitat preserve. Beaches, sand dunes, and maritime forests make up the interior of the park. Hidden from the beach stand two towering artillery batteries, their 16-inch cannons long since removed. Visitors who stick to the beach may be unaware of the fort's 57 year history of protecting New York City.

Fortifications in New York Harbor began in 1807, with the Second System coastal defenses. Prior to the War of 1812, clashes with the British prompted President Thomas Jefferson to build fortifications on America's coasts. Forts were built on Manhattan Island as well as today's Governor's Island, Ellis Island, Liberty Island, and Staten Island. These forts, known as the Second System defenses, were constructed of earth and wood . The smoothbore cannons which could fire up to 1 mile, keeping enemy battleships from striking distance. Between 1817 and 1867, the forts were updated with cannons with a range of 3 miles. This allowed construction of Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island and Fort Hancock in Sandy Hook, NJ, which guarded the southern entrance of New York Harbor. A blockhouse was also built on Rockaway Peninsula, establishing the first of many military installations on the Peninsula.

In 1917, the United States entered World War I and fortifications on the Rockaway Peninsula began. Camp Rockaway Beach was constructed as well as the Naval Air Station (NAS) Rockaway, located in today's Jacob Riis Park. Camp Rockaway Beach was later renamed Fort Tilden after Samuel J. Tilden, former governor of New York and 1876 presidential candidate. The East and West Batteries were built, each with two 6-inch guns.

Brooklyn Daily Eagle newspaper Friday September 13, 1935
Source https://www.facebook.com/forttilden

Fort Tilden's Battery Harris was built in 1924. Two 16-inch M1919 cannons were added, operated by the Army Coast Artillery Corps. The cannons were the largest used in seacoast defenses and had a range of up to 26 miles. The shoreline defenses, East Battery and West Battery, were renamed to Battery Fergusson and Battery Kessler.

By 1941, the United States entered World War II. Fort Tilden's detachment increased to 1,000 men and barracks were constructed. In 1943, Battery Harris's cannons were casemated with concrete and disguised with sand to protect against aerial attacks. The concrete structure also included a railway system which moved ammunition from the adjacent magazine buildings and then loaded the one-ton artillery shells.

One of the casemated Battery Harris cannons. 
Photo copyright https://www.facebook.com/forttilden

After World War II, Fort Tilden's coastal defenses were no longer needed. In 1946, parts of the facility were converted to apartments for Army veterans and their families. These families vacated in 1951 as Fort Tilden was once again needed during the Cold War. As sea attacks were no longer a danger, the 69th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion was stationed to man anti-aircraft batteries. Soon these batteries became obsolete and surface-to-air missiles were emplaced to defend against Soviet jet bombers.

Nike launch Area, 1965
Copyright US Army
https://www.nps.gov/gate/learn/historyculture/coldwartilden.htm

Under the threat of the Cold War, Fort Tilden became a Nike Missile site (NY-49), one of 19 sites within the New York City area. This site protected the area from 1954 until the fort was decommissioned in 1974. The missiles were purely defensive and could intercept enemy jets out at sea. The Nike Hercules system was designed to carry a nuclear warhead, though the army never confirmed whether or not Fort Tilden's missiles carried nuclear material. During holidays, the missiles were on display, pointed towards the sky. Due to the SALT treaty with the Soviet Union, all Nike sites were decommissioned and in 1974 the army transferred Fort Tilden to the National Park Service.

Today, Battery Kessler can be seen from the beach and many military support buildings still remain. An observation deck above Battery Harris East offers 360 degree views. The Nike missile site is closed to the public but is easily found with the help of Google Maps. The concrete launch area is visible. Visitors can wander trails through the park's interior, past the giant concrete bunkers of Battery Harris which now stand as a reminder of Fort Tilden's role in protecting New York City.

Sources

http://www.fortwiki.com/Fort_Tilden
https://www.nps.gov/gate/learn/historyculture/samuel-tilden-biography.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Tilden
https://www.nps.gov/gate/index.htm
https://www.nps.gov/gate/learn/historyculture/2ndsystemforts.htm
https://www.nps.gov/gate/learn/historyculture/newyorkharbordefenses.htm
https://www.nps.gov/gate/learn/historyculture/forttilden1917-45.htm
https://www.nps.gov/gate/learn/historyculture/coldwartilden.htm
https://www.nps.gov/gate/learn/historyculture/nike-missile.htm

https://www.nps.gov/gate/learn/historyculture/upload/Willis-lt-colonel.pdf